Sindhu storms into Olympics final to secure at least silver

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 18 (IANS) India’s P.V. Sindhu thumped Nozomi Okuhara of Japan to enter the final of the women’s singles event of badminton competitions, assuring the country at least a silver medal at the Olympic Games here on Thursday.

World No.10 Sindhu registered a 21-19, 21-10 triumph in the semi-finals over world No.6 Okuhara to become the first Indian shuttler to enter the final of the Olympics.

With this win, double World Championship bronze medallist Sindhu improved her head-to-head record against reigning All England Open champion Okuhara to 2-3.

In the final, she will face two-time reigning world champion Carolina Marin of Spain, who beat defending champion Li Xuerui of China 21-14, 21-16.

Sindhu warned the top seed that her best is yet to come, playing a mental game before the final. “Of course, I am yet to give my best. That’s in the next game. I will definitely make the wish of our country people for gold come true. I will play my heart out,” Sindhu told reporters.

Irrespective of the colour of the medal in the final on Friday, it will be India’s second medal in the Rio Games after wrestler Sakshi Malik bagged a bronze medal in the women’s 58kg category.

“My target now of course is to win the gold. Definitely I hope I will give my best performance tomorrow (Friday) and for me to be here for the first time in Olympics and reach the final is a great feeling,” Sindhu said.

For Sindhu, who was on a giant-killing spree after dismissing two higher-ranked opponents — Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying and World No. 2 Wang Yihan of China in the pre-quarter-final and the quarter-final respectively — Thursday’s win was also an extension of her good form.

Sindhu’s height and long reach gave her a lot of advantage against the pint-sized Okuhara, who also had her right thigh strapped.

India's P.V. Sindhu, who thumped Nozomi Okuhara of Japan to enter the final of the women's singles event of badminton competitions at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with IOC member Nita Ambani in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Aug 18, 2016. (Photo: IANS)

Especially, Sindhu’s sharp cross-court game and half smash helped her get off to a fine start.

In the first game between the two 21-year-olds, Sindhu started the match on a positive note, taking a 4-1 lead before the Japanese reduced it to 3-4. But Sindhu took two straight points to hold a 5-3 lead before Okuhara got a point to sit at 4-5. But Sindhu upped the ante and took a 8-4 lead before Okuhara bagged two points as Sindhu hit wide.

Sindhu reached the mid-game interval with a 11-6 lead and after a two-minute break, Okuhara’s delectable drop shots helped her bounce back. She was trailing 10-12 when Sindhu forced her to hit the net and take a 14-10 advantage.

Later, Sindhu took a 15-12 lead that became 17-14 but Okuhara’s net game helped her almost reduce the deficit. She kept coming back at Sindhu, forcing the Indian to make some unforced errors — hitting wide.

But Sindhu remained always in the lead, albeit a slender one-point advantage, before winning the game 21-19.

In the second game, Sindhu again began convincingly taking a 3-0 lead before Okuhara took five straight points to sit at a 5-3 lead.

Afterwards it was a neck-and-neck contest. Sindhu rattled Okuhara with two straight points as the Japanese hit wide and failed to return a fierce smash from the Indian.

Okuhara again held the lead at 7-5 and at the mid-game interval Sindhu led 11-10.

After the break, Sindhu turned more aggressive and played a fearless game to stun the Japanese who looked short of ideas.

Sindhu kept earning points, hitting one smash after another to enjoy a comfortable ride. As many as 10 points on the trot catapulted her to the final with a 21-10 win in the second game.

Afterwards, what followed was a screaming celebration from Sindhu and her camp.

“I gave my everything in today’s match, but my opponent was not easy. She came back after losing the first game to me and till ten points we were equal. It could have been anyone’s game,” Sindhu said.

“But I didn’t take it easy and kept on going. Every point for me was important the game had long rallies and some of my smashes were going to the net, but my coach told me to keep on going. I am very happy the way it went and it was a good day for me.”